Don't drink and drive

Monday

We know youíve heard it before, but we canít say it enough. Driving drunk kills ó especially during the holidays.

The Christmas season is a time for family gatherings and parties, but itís also one of the deadliest seasons of the year.

Medford Township and a number of other police departments in Burlington County are making getting drunken drivers off the road a priority this month and next. If police crackdowns ó and the higher insurance costs and fines that come with a motor vehicle charge ó donít slow you down, consider the following:

In December 2004, 1,210 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, more alcohol-impaired drivers get behind the wheel than at any other time of year.

And because many drivers donít realize that just one drink can impair their judgment and motor skills, taking to the road will risk more lives and make driving conditions more dangerous for everyone. A driver with a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit of .08 is considered impaired.

If this impaired-driving trend continues, nearly half of all fatal crashes that occur during the Christmas and New Yearís holidays will involve at least one impaired driver. During the rest of the year, only 30 percent of the highway fatalities involve impaired drivers.

And parents need to be especially vigilant this time of year. A large percentage of holiday-season fatalities involve drivers just over the legal drinking age, according to government officials. Thirty-eight percent of drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 involved in fatal crashes during the holiday season from 2002 to 2006 were impaired by alcohol, according to the NHTSA.

If those statistics donít keep you in the passenger seat, we also offer some additional advice:

If youíre headed to a party and you know youíll be partaking in some holiday cheer, designate a driver before the event.

Give the host your car keys when you arrive.

If you donít have a designated driver, call a cab or ask a sober friend to pick you up. Some bars and organizations offer free transportation to intoxicated customers.

If all else fails, arrange to spend the night at your party hostís home. Weíre sure they would rather see you snoring on their sofa than taking to the road while under the influence.

We want our readers to have a safe and joyous holiday season, so please, donít drive drunk. If you plan to imbibe in the coming days, donít risk your life or the lives of others. Be safe. Please stay off the road.

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